Our olive tree, Esmerelda, seems to be thriving in her indoor home.
I’m so relieved. She’s so monumental both in size and stature that the thought of killing her inadvertently through my usual combination of over or under watering is a terrifying one. Almost like killing one of the family.
I’d noticed that there were a few new leaves appearing on her recently, which was a hopeful sign. At least they’re replacing those that the cats have knocked off whilst clambering up into her canopy, or have eaten…
Don’t worry, the leaves aren’t toxic to cats.
The house is very light with those big windows, and I think that this helps enormously. I mist her foliage most mornings and give her a couple of litres of water a few times a week to drink.
She’s rewarded us with her first olive flower, a small, insignificant, but delicately scented blossom.
Who knows.. I had no real hope of fruit, but could we be snacking on a few croft olives later in the year with our gin and tonics?
Ravencroft Skye 
How exciting!
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It really is! 😂❤️
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She approves of her new home. The leaves can be made into a tea for respiratory problems too. If you soak them in gin for a month the gin becomes a tincture and can be used for internal infections. Such a useful tree she is.
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That’s so interesting to know! Thank you. The cats have been chewing on the leaves… I checked that they weren’t toxic for them but I had no idea that they were used medicinally
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Olives have lived with humans for such a long time. It has become a symbiotic relationship.
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How old is that heautiful tree?
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Who knows.. a great age, for certain. She was grubbed up and discarded when her olive harvest started to decline, but looking at that trunk I’d say she must be near 100 years old 🌱
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